Emergency on Planet Earth (song)

"Emergency on Planet Earth" is a song by British funk/acid jazz band Jamiroquai, released by Sony Soho Square as the fourth and final single from the band's debut studio album of the same name (1993). The song was written by Jay Kay, and has an environmentalist tone, urging the listener to "stop modernisation going on." The track peaked at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart and at number four on the US Dance Chart.

"Emergency on Planet Earth"
Single by Jamiroquai
from the album Emergency on Planet Earth
B-side
  • "If I Like It, I Do It" (acoustic)
  • "Revolution 1993" (demo)
Released2 August 1993 (1993-08-02)[1]
Length3:34
LabelSony Soho Square
Songwriter(s)Jay Kay, Toby Smith
Producer(s)Mike Nielsen
Jamiroquai singles chronology
"Blow Your Mind"
(1993)		 "Emergency on Planet Earth"
(1993)		 "When You Gonna Learn"
(1993)

A remix of the song, which uses a completely different bass track and intro, and includes some changes in the arrangements, was featured on the single, and in the music video for the song. This version was later released on the group's greatest hits compilation, High Times: Singles 1992–2006.

Composition

"Emergency on Planet Earth" is in the key of B flat major. Kay's voice in the song ranges in pitch from F4 to B♭5.[2]

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "U.K. acid jazz/funk act is given a second shot at stateside acceptance with this house-fried throwdown." He added further, "Remixer Danny Tenaglia lays a crafty groove beneath the song that will work for discerning DJs, but maintains the integrity of the song and vocal. At a time when post-production seems to mean tossing out the entire track and starting all over, this is a nice change of pace. Deserves a shot."[3] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton deemed it "another piece of soul-funk revival".[4] Caitlin Moran from Melody Maker said, "This is the first time I've ever listened to Jamiroquai, and blow me down with a libel writ, but it sounds exactly like Stevie Wonder."[5]

Alan Jones from Music Week rated the song four out of five, noting, "A cinematic widescreen intro ushers in a typical but slightly more uptempo retro-funk workout, complete with period electronic squelching that lopes purposefully under some fine vocal emoting."[6] Ian McCann from NME wrote, "Far better than the last one, in that it moves along a bit, but it isn't exactly catchy."[7] James Hamilton from the Record Mirror Dance Update described it as "another uncompromisingly late Seventies style jazz-funk burbler".[8] Tony Cross from Smash Hits also gave it four out of five, stating that "this is still strong stuff and the message is as important as the music – a green warrior that pop can be proud of."[9]

Music video

The accompanying music video for the single was directed by W.I.Z. It features the members of Jamiroquai on a spaceship, resembling the Sith spaceship from Star Wars: A New Hope, receiving a video message from Kay, who is singing and dancing in the middle of nowhere. The video was later made available on YouTube in 2009 and had generated more than 3.9 million views as of November 2021.[10]

Track listing
  • UK CD single
  1. "Emergency on Planet Earth" – 3:39
  2. "Emergency on Planet Earth" (extended version) – 4:12
  3. "If I Like It, I Do It" (acoustic) – 4:26
  4. "Revolution 1993" (demo) – 10:19

Charts
Chart (1993-94) Peak
position
Europe (European Dance Radio)[11] 20
UK Singles (OCC)[12] 14
UK Dance (Music Week)[13] 13
UK Club Chart (Music Week)[14] 63
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[15] 4

References
  1. "Emergency on Planet Earth" (PDF). Music Week. 31 July 1993. p. 24 (of PDF). Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  2. "Emergency on Planet Earth". Musicnotes. 29 September 2008.
  3. Flick, Larry (28 May 1994). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 51. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  4. Masterton, James (8 August 1993). "Week Ending August 14th 1993". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  5. Moran, Caitlin (7 August 1993). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 30. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  6. Jones, Alan (7 August 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream – Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 12. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  7. McCann, Ian (7 August 1993). "Singles". NME. p. 17. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  8. Hamilton, James (7 August 1993). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). p. 7. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  9. Cross, Tony (4 August 1993). "New Singles". Smash Hits. p. 53. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  10. "Jamiroquai – Emergency on Planet Earth (Official Video)". 26 November 2009. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021 – via YouTube.
  11. "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. 11 September 1993. p. 19. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  12. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  13. "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 21 August 1993. p. 24. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  14. "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 11 June 1994. p. 4. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  15. "Jamiroquai Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
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